General Booking tomorrow

[want2seepluto]

As I sit here still unable to get through to book for silver status, I'm already dreading having to go through this again to book for my parents and brother (first time on DCL). For tomorrow when booking opens to the public, is it generally better to call in or book online? Is it difficult to successfully book online when they are slammed (am I going to see Stitch telling me someone ate the page over and over)? Thanks!

 

[Sytrace]

Stitch is usually really hungry on release dates for itineraries...but less hungry as the day goes on. My strategy would be to book online while I was on hold with DCL.

I was able to call Monday and get cabin for late September 2019 but am interested to see what the price will be online tomorrow. Or if there truly is a huge difference.

 

[Dug720]

Do you have enough people in your Silver family that you could book one of them in each cabin - for you, your parents, and your brother? You could chance around the sleeping arrangements however (people would just have to go to muster drill with their registered cabin) once on board. That way you could do all the cabins today.

 

[want2seepluto]

I thought about mixing silver people into the other rooms but there's a decent chance my brother and his family won't be able to go so I'm worried about him cancelling and one of my kids being in his room. Do you know what happens in that scenario?

 

[tee11]

Same here, Silver, can't get through, would prefer booking online anyways... but my question: how do I apply my OBB (placeholder) online? It's not possible, right?
I tried to "link" it to my account, but that was not possible!! HELP!

 

[Dug720]

I thought about mixing silver people into the other rooms but there's a decent chance my brother and his family won't be able to go so I'm worried about him cancelling and one of my kids being in his room. Do you know what happens in that scenario?

You'd have to hope that there was space in your cabin's lifeboat to transfer your kid to you.

Although...if you booked one of your brother's kids in your cabin and your kid in theirs it should just be a matter of changing the name...

 

[Dug720]

Same here, Silver, can't get through, would prefer booking online anyways... but my question: how do I apply my OBB (placeholder) online? It's not possible, right?
I tried to "link" it to my account, but that was not possible!! HELP!

I've never done a placeholder - I always know when I'm going to cruise (at least 95% sure) when I book on board, so I do a specific date), but I think you have to call for the placeholder regardless.

 

[want2seepluto]

Thanks Dug! I may be able to do that - put his daughter in my cabin and one of my boys in his. Although I'm using a placeholder for our family so not sure if I can change the names in our cabin? I'll just have to ask when I finally get through. Thanks again!

 

[Dug720]

Thanks Dug! I may be able to do that - put his daughter in my cabin and one of my boys in his. Although I'm using a placeholder for our family so not sure if I can change the names in our cabin? I'll just have to ask when I finally get through. Thanks again!

You're welcome!

I think as long as one of the names on the placeholder remains the same you can change names. Not 100% on that, but I think so.

 

[gilsan]

Thanks Dug! I may be able to do that - put his daughter in my cabin and one of my boys in his. Although I'm using a placeholder for our family so not sure if I can change the names in our cabin? I'll just have to ask when I finally get through. Thanks again!

I think you need to have at least one of the original names on the placeholder stay on the booking. You should be able to easily swap his daughter for your son. We did a similar booking yesterday with my sister, but we didn't have a placeholder to use

 

[lanejudy]

Same here, Silver, can't get through, would prefer booking online anyways... but my question: how do I apply my OBB (placeholder) online? It's not possible, right?
I tried to "link" it to my account, but that was not possible!! HELP!

A placeholder can't be booked online - you will have to call for that. Unless it already has a specified date and you simply wish to change the date; then it should be available to change online.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[braysmommy]

Stitch is usually really hungry on release dates for itineraries...but less hungry as the day goes on. My strategy would be to book online while I was on hold with DCL.

I was able to call Monday and get cabin for late September 2019 but am interested to see what the price will be online tomorrow. Or if there truly is a huge difference.

A few years ago our TA called in and waited on hold for hours to book a cruise for us. The next day when cruises were released online I checked to see what pricing was doing and realized there was a price glitch for one cabin category. Had our TA change us from a 9A to 9B and saved almost $2,000! It took DCL about 4 hrs to figure it out before correcting the price.

 

[tee11]

A placeholder can't be booked online - you will have to call for that. Unless it already has a specified date and you simply wish to change the date; then it should be available to change online.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thanks! I WISH you could apply the placeholder online, with a code, or even by entering the reservation number, and then seeing the discount. It should be technically possible, then you could actually compare yourself. Sigh!

 

[want2seepluto]

OP here. Just wanted to follow-up on this in case the answer is helpful to anyone. I was booking 4 rooms - 2 were silver status with a placeholder and 2 were new cruisers. The CM moved the adults around so that there was one silver status adult per room so that I could book all 4 rooms today. No issues with the OBB for the first two rooms. She said to call back next week when things have died down and she'd change the names around.

So hooray for not having to call again tomorrow! And hooray for Alaska 2019!

Thanks to everyone for their help!

 

[Dug720]

So glad it worked out!!

 

[MNtwinsplus1mom]

Can anyone tell me what time cruises are available to book online tomorrow? I'm itching to get mine booked, but am working through a TA. Hope that they are fast! Hard for me not to do it myself, but love the generous shipboard credit deal...

 

[alexce]

Anybody know what time the bookings open up online? I am a silver spinout and now need to try it this way.

Edited to add that reading is fundamental and sorry for basically repeating the previous poster’s ask!

 

[gilsan]

OP here. Just wanted to follow-up on this in case the answer is helpful to anyone. I was booking 4 rooms - 2 were silver status with a placeholder and 2 were new cruisers. The CM moved the adults around so that there was one silver status adult per room so that I could book all 4 rooms today. No issues with the OBB for the first two rooms. She said to call back next week when things have died down and she'd change the names around.

So hooray for not having to call again tomorrow! And hooray for Alaska 2019!

Thanks to everyone for their help!

You could leave everyone where there are and when it comes time to check in all the cabins could check in at 90 days instead of silvers at 90 and newbies at 75. It makes it easier if you are booking Palo or excursions, and your PAT.

 

[PrincessArlena'sDad]

Can anyone tell me what time cruises are available to book online tomorrow? I'm itching to get mine booked, but am working through a TA. Hope that they are fast! Hard for me not to do it myself, but love the generous shipboard credit deal...

Anybody know what time the bookings open up online? I am a silver spinout and now need to try it this way.

Edited to add that reading is fundamental and sorry for basically repeating the previous poster’s ask!

I read on another thread here that it was between 7:15 and 7:30. I'll be finding out tomorrow for myself!

 

[Shanti]

I booked at about 6:45am EST today. I'm silver, but could never get through on the phone yesterday. No issue really as the price I booked for online was the same as that reported by posters on platinum's first booking day.